Inflatable punching bag

ABSTRACT

An inflatable punching bag includes an inflatable bag, at least one sensor device, a control box and a base. At least one impact area is formed on the inflatable bag. A single sensor device is attached behind each impact area. Each sensor device preferably includes a sensor case, at least one light source and an impact sensor. A control box preferably includes a power source, a sound transducer and an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit receives input from at least one impact sensor. The electrical circuit provides a light output through the at least one light source, an audible output through the sound transducer and a video output through a video display. The base preferably includes a weighted portion and intermediate portion. The weighted portion is filled with a dense solid or liquid to provide radial support for the inflatable punching bag. The intermediate portion is disposed between the base and the inflatable bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to exercise and morespecifically to an inflatable punching bag, which includes a pluralityof impact areas that provide feedback when struck.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Patent application number 2004/0097347 to Ghim discloses a sportstraining device. The Ghim application includes a body having at leastone hitting surface sized and shaped so as to receive a punch or kickdelivered by a user. A sound generator is carried by the body forgenerating an audible sound and includes a switch carried by the bodyfor causing the generator to generate the sound in response to an impactcreated by the punch or kick. However, the Ghim device is notinflatable.

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for an inflatablepunching bag, which may be deflated for transportation in a smallenclosure and includes a plurality of impact areas that provide feedbackwhen struck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an inflatable punching bag, whichincludes a plurality of impact areas that provide feedback when struck.The inflatable punching bag preferably includes an inflatable bag, atleast one sensor device, a control box and a base. The inflatable bag ispreferably fabricated from a PVC plastic material. An air valve ispreferably formed on a top of the inflatable bag for filling thereofwith air. At least one impact area is formed on a front of theinflatable bag. A single sensor device is formed behind each one of theat least one impact area. The sensor device preferably includes a sensorcase, at least one light source and an impact sensor. The wires fromeach sensor device are run through a rear of the inflatable bag. Thewire opening is sealed to prevent the loss of air pressure.

The control box includes a power source, a sound transducer and anelectrical circuit. The electrical circuit receives input from the atleast one impact sensor. The electrical circuit may be programmed toprovide a light output through the at least one light source and/or anaudible output through the sound transducer. The electrical circuit mayalso be programmed to provide a video output through a video display asa response or feedback to input from the at least one impact sensor. Thebase preferably includes a weighted portion and intermediate portion.The weighted portion includes a fill cap. The weighted portion is filledwith a dense solid or a liquid to prevent the inflatable bag punchingbag from being knocked over during use. The intermediate portionincludes an air nozzle for filling thereof with air. A bottom of theintermediate portion is secured to a top of the weighted portion and atop of the intermediate portion is secured to a bottom of the inflatablebag.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aninflatable punching bag, which may be deflated for transportation in asmall enclosure.

Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide aninflatable punching bag, which includes a plurality of impact areas thatprovide feedback when struck.

These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the inflatable punching bag in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the inflatable punching bag disclosing a crosssectional side view of two sensor devices in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of a sensor device of aninflatable punching bag in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a control box of an inflatable punchingbag in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a control box of an inflatablepunching bag in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a side view of an inflatable punching bag 1. With reference toFIGS. 2-5, the inflatable punching bag 1 preferably includes aninflatable bag 10, at least one sensor device 11, a control box 12, anda base 14. The inflatable bag 10 is preferably fabricated from a PVCplastic material, but other suitable materials may also be used. An airvalve 16 is preferably formed on a top of the inflatable bag for fillingthereof with air. At least one impact area 18 is formed on a front ofthe inflatable bag 10. The at least one impact area 18 may have anysuitable shape. A single sensor device 11 is formed behind each one ofthe at least one impact area 18.

The sensor device 11 preferably includes a sensor case 22, at least onelight source 24 and an impact sensor 26. The impact sensor 26 and atleast one light source 24 are preferably retained on a circuit board 28.The at least one light source 24 may be a light emitting diode, a lightbulb, an EL panel or any other suitable light source for providing anilluminating output. The impact sensor 26 may be a tact switch, apressure sensor or any other suitable type of sensor. The circuit board28 is retained in the sensor case 22. A plurality of sensor wires 30extend from the circuit board 28, through a wire bundle opening 34 in arear of the sensor case 22. The sensor case 22 is preferably fabricatedfrom a PVC plastic material, but other suitable materials may also beused. A perimeter of the sensor case 22 is attached to an inside wall ofthe inflatable bag 10 with adhesive, high frequency welding or any othersuitable attachment method. The sensor wires 30 from the at least onesensor device 11 are grouped together to form a wire bundle 32 and runthrough the wire bundle opening 35 in a rear of the inflatable bag 10.The wire bundle opening 35 is sealed to prevent the loss of air pressurefrom the inflatable bag 10.

The control box 12 includes a control case 36, a power source, a soundtransducer 38 and an electrical circuit 40. The power source may be atleast one battery 42, a battery adapter plugged into a wall outlet of adwelling or any other suitable power source. The power source provideselectrical power to the electrical circuit 40. The electrical circuit 40could be a microprocessor based board, a microcontroller based board orany other suitable electrical circuit board. The electrical circuit 40receives input from the at least one impact sensor 26. The electricalcircuit 40 may be programmed to provide a light output through the atleast one light source 24 and/or an audible output through the soundtransducer 38. At least two box light sources 44 are disposed in thecontrol box 12 and are indicators of a program setting selection. The atleast two box light sources 44 may be a light emitting diode, a lightbulb, an EL panel or any other suitable light source for providing avisual output. The electrical circuit 40 may also be programmed to powera video output to a video display 45 as a response or feedback forstriking the at least one impact area 18. At least one button 46 may beused to select a preprogrammed setting in the electrical circuit 40.

The base 14 preferably includes a weighted portion 48 and intermediateportion 50. The weighted portion 48 includes a fill cap 52. The weightedportion 48 may be fabricated from a rigid or flexible material. Theweighted portion 48 is preferably fabricated from PVC, when fabricatedfrom a flexible material, but other materials may also be used. Theweighted portion 48 may be folded into a small volume when empty. Theweighted portion 48 is filled with a dense solid or a liquid, such assand or water to provide support to prevent the inflatable bag 1 frombeing knocked over during use.

The intermediate portion 50 includes an air nozzle 54 for fillingthereof with air. A bottom of the intermediate portion 50 is secured toa top of the weighted portion and a top of the intermediate portion 50is secured to a bottom of the inflatable bag 10. The air in theintermediate portion 50 provides flexibility and elasticity for theswinging motion of the inflatable punching bag 1. The inflatablepunching bag 1 is collapsed by deflating the inflatable bag 10 and theintermediate portion 50 and emptying the weighted portion 40 of thedense solid or liquid. The inflatable bag 10 and the intermediateportion 50 may be inflated with human breathing or an air pump.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

1. An inflatable punching bag comprising: an inflatable bag having meansfor filling thereof with air; at least one impact sensor being disposedon an inside wall of said inflatable bag, at least one of at least onelight source and a sound transducer being activated when said impactsensor is struck, said sound transducer being disposed inside saidinflatable bag adjacent said impact sensor; and a base being attached toa bottom of said inflatable bag, said base providing support for saidinflatable bag.
 2. The inflatable punching bag of claim 1, furthercomprising: an electrical circuit receiving input from said at least oneimpact sensor, said electrical circuit activating said at least one ofat least one light source and a sound transducer. 3 (canceled)
 4. Theinflatable punching bag of claim 1, further comprising: said baseincluding a weighted portion and an intermediate portion, a bottom ofsaid intermediate portion being attached to a top of said base, a top ofsaid intermediate portion being attached to a bottom of said inflatablebag.
 5. The inflatable punching bag of claim 4, wherein: saidintermediate portion including means for filling thereof with air. 6.The inflatable punching bag of claim 2, further comprising: a powersource for supplying electrical power to said electrical circuit.
 7. Theinflatable punching bag of claim 6, further comprising: said electricalcircuit being programmed to provide a video output through a videodisplay as a response or feedback to an input from said at least oneimpact sensor.
 8. The inflatable punching bag of claim 4, furthercomprising: said weighted portion being filled with a dense material ora liquid.
 9. An inflatable punching bag comprising: an inflatable baghaving means for filling thereof with air; at least one impact sensorbeing disposed on an inside wall of said inflatable bag; an electricalcircuit receiving input from said at least one impact sensor, saidelectrical circuit activating at least one of at least one light sourceand a sound transducer, said sound transducer being disposed inside saidinflatable bag adjacent said impact sensor; and a base being attached toa bottom of said inflatable bag, a portion of said base being filledwith a dense material or a liquid. 10-11. (canceled)
 12. The inflatablepunching bag of claim 9, further comprising: said base including aweighted portion and an intermediate portion, a bottom of saidintermediate portion being attached to a top of said base, a top of saidintermediate portion being attached to a bottom of said inflatable bag.13. The inflatable punching bag of claim 12, wherein: said intermediateportion including means for filling thereof with air.
 14. The inflatablepunching bag of claim 9, further comprising: said electrical circuitbeing programmed to provide a video output through a video display as aresponse or feedback to an input from said at least one impact sensor.15. An inflatable punching bag comprising: an inflatable bag havingmeans for filling thereof with air; at least one impact sensor beingdisposed on an inside wall of said inflatable bag, at least one of atleast one light source and a sound transducer being activated when saidimpact sensor is struck, said sound transducer being disposed insidesaid inflatable bag adjacent said impact sensor; a base being attachedto a bottom of said inflatable bag, said base including a weightedportion and an intermediate portion, a bottom of said intermediateportion being attached to a top of said weighted portion, a top of saidintermediate portion being attached to a bottom of said inflatable bag,said intermediate portion having being filled with air, said weightedportion being filled with a dense material or a liquid, the air of saidintermediate portion not mixing with the dense material or liquid ofsaid weighted portion.
 16. The inflatable punching bag of claim 15,further comprising: at least one of said at least one light source beingpositioned adjacent each one of said at least one impact sensor. 17.(canceled)
 18. The inflatable punching bag of claim 17, wherein: saidintermediate portion including means for filling thereof with air. 19.The inflatable punching bag of claim 15, further comprising: a powersource for supplying electrical power to said electrical circuit. 20.The inflatable punching bag of claim 19, further comprising: saidelectrical circuit being programmed to provide a video output through avideo display as a response or feedback to an input from said at leastone impact sensor.
 21. The inflatable punching bag of claim 15, furthercomprising: an electrical circuit receiving input from said at least oneimpact sensor, said electrical circuit activating said at least one ofat least one light source and a sound transducer.